May 3, 2000

We're in the middle of the Golden Week period here.  There are something like four holidays in the space of a week.  Many businesses close for the entire week, but some only on the actual holidays.  This is a time of class reunions and short getaways.  The weather has been very pleasant.  We've had a chance to get together with friends, take a short trip to a ceramics festival in Hasami (Nagasaki Prefecture), and enjoy the azaleas and other blossoms in Ogi Park.  The cherry blossoms in early April were spectacular.

It's hard to believe that 8 months have gone by since we moved here.  In many ways, it's also hard to believe that it has only been 8 months.  It seems that so much has happened, both here and at home.

I can't help but feel that we may never really be completely over the adjustment period, or maybe it just takes longer than either of us expected.  I hope for the most part when you read these journal entries you get a positive picture and a sense that we are doing OK.  But I must tell you, it hasn't exactly been a picnic.  This last winter in particular was one of the most difficult I've been through, and probably the same is true for Yuki.  The weather here isn't as bad as back home.  No significant accumulation of snow, and the temperature rarely went below freezing.  However, there was a constant bone-chilling quality to the air, and it was hard to escape, even indoors.  We're living in an old house with no insulation.  In most areas of the house the only thing really protecting us from the elements is either a pane of glass or a thin sheet of plywood.  And to make things worse, the house was undergoing major renovation during the winter.  So many times we had direct exposure to the wind.

Considering these living conditions, it's not surprising that I developed a case of bronchitis and several colds.  Even Yuki, who rarely gets colds (knock-on-wood) could not fight them off entirely.  These physical factors did not do a lot to help our mental state.  It seemed that we would each take turns going through bouts of depression.  When we were both suffering at the same time we would talk about going back to the U.S. to boost our spirits.

Now, winter has passed, and it seems our outlook, though still infused with some doubt, is much brighter.  We're both working, although only part-time, and we're almost ready to begin offering private English lessons here at home.  The renovations I mentioned have improved the appearance inside to the point where we could have students come here.  It's still not a showplace, but it's much better than when we arrived.  The renovations were made to accommodate the building of a new house on the same property for Yuki's sister, Yoko, and her family.  It was necessary to tear down the existing car port, which was damaged in a typhoon (see my story on Surviving a Typhoon).  Yuki's mom wanted to move the main entrance of this house to be on the same side as the entrance for Yoko's house.  This would also provide better access to and from the new garage to be built on the property.  And on top of the garage will be a new apartment for Yuki and me.  I guess that's the real reason for our improved outlook.  Work has not started on the garage yet, but we're hopeful that we'll be able to move sometime this sum

(Continued)